Method and Apparatus for Monitoring the Condition of a Patient with Diabetes

ABSTRACT

According to certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for treatment of a patient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes. A PAP device may be configured to provide a supply of pressurized breathable gas. At least one glycemia sensor also may be provided. A controller may be operable to receive a signal from the at least one glycemia detector and may be further operable to analyze the signal for an indication of a glycemia abnormality (e.g., hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic coma, etc.). Optionally, when the signal indicates that the patient is experiencing a diabetic event, an alert may be generated and/or a drug delivery unit may administer an appropriate treatment to the patient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Australian Patent Application No.2006 900780, filed Feb. 17, 2006, incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain example embodiments described herein relate to the monitoring ofdiabetic patients and, more particularly, certain example embodimentsdescribed herein relate to monitoring diabetic patients during sleep.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) is a general term for a sleep disorderwith apneas and hypopneas. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is an exampleof such a sleep disorder. Sullivan invented treatment of OSA with nasalContinuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). See U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,310(Sullivan). An apparatus for CPAP treatment typically includes: (i) asource of air at positive pressure, such as a blower, flow generator, orother positive airway pressure (PAP) device; (ii) an air deliveryconduit; and (iii) a patient interface, such as a mask. The patientinterface typically is connected to the patient with headgear including,for example, a series of elastic straps. At least a portion of theheadgear is in contact with the patient's skin, typically on thepatient's face. Patients wear the apparatus while sleeping.

A basic CPAP device may provide a supply of air at a generally fixedpressure in the range of 4-20 cmH₂O. A more advanced CPAP device such asResMed's AUTOSET SPIRIT can monitor the patient's breathing, determinethe shape of the breath waveform, detect the presence of snoring,apneas, and hypopneas, and also adjust the treatment pressure. See U.S.Pat. No. 5,704,345 (Berthon-Jones), the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Diabetes is a disease characterized by an elevated level of glucose inthe blood and in the urine. When blood sugar extremes—both high(hyperglycemia) and low (hypoglycemia)—are not treated, a patient canfall into a diabetic coma. The most common cause of diabetic coma ishypoglycemia. This is caused by excessive treatment with insulinrelative to food intake and physical activity. Research indicates thatthe frequency of severe hypoglycemia is about 1.9 and 2.6 episodes perpatient per year for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients, respectively,with approximately 50% of these episodes occurring during sleep. Thereis evidence that the fear of a hypoglycemic episode significantlyaffects patient outcomes, such as glycemic control and management,self-treatment modifications, and post-episode lifestyle infringements(see Leiter et al. 2005, Canadian J Diabetes; 29:186-192). Recentstudies have indicated that about 30% of diabetic patients also have OSA(Meslier et al, Eur. Resp. J, 22(1):156-160), and there is emerging dataindicating that effective treatment of OSA with n-CPAP significantlyimproves glucose metabolism.

Given that many diabetic patients will require treatment for their OSAor other SDB, certain example embodiments of the present invention aredirected towards improving patient outcomes by providing methods andapparatuses that can reduce the patients' fear of hypoglycemia and/orother diabetes-related events.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of certain example embodiments of the invention is to providean apparatus comprising a hypoglycemia detector and an action unit. Inone form, the hypoglycemia detector monitors for one or more of thefollowing: shallow patient breathing, rapid heart rate, temperature, andsweating and, when it detects conditions indicative of hypoglycemia, itsends a signal to the action unit. In one form, the action unitgenerates a local and/or external alarm upon receipt of a signal fromthe detector.

According to certain example embodiments, an apparatus for treatment ofa patient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes is provided.Such an apparatus may comprise a blower configured to provide a supplyof air at positive pressure; a patient interface; headgear to hold thepatient interface in position in communication with a patient's airways;at least one hypoglycemia sensor; and an alarm. A controller also may beprovided, with the controller being programmed to receive a signal fromthe at least one hypoglycemia detector, analyze the signal forindications of hypoglycemia, and upon detection of an indication ofhypoglycemia trigger the alarm.

According to certain other example embodiments, an apparatus fortreatment of a patient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetesis provided. A positive airway pressure (PAP) device configured toprovide a supply of pressurized breathable gas is provided. At least oneglycemia sensor also is provided. A controller is operable to receive asignal from the at least one glycemia detector and is further operableto analyze the signal for an indication of a glycemia abnormality (e.g.,hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic coma, etc.).

According to still other embodiments, a method of treating a patientwith both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes is provided. A supplyof pressurized breathable gas is provided to the patient. A signalindicative of whether the patient is experiencing a diabetic event isgenerated. Optionally, when the signal indicates that the patient isexperiencing a diabetic event, an alert mechanism may be activatedand/or a corresponding treatment may be administered.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of thisdisclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the variousembodiments of this invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an apparatus including a positive airway pressure (PAP)device, patient interface, headgear, and glucose sensor, in accordancewith an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an apparatus for treating a patient with both sleep-disorderedbreathing and diabetes, in accordance with another example embodiment;and,

FIG. 3 is an illustrative flowchart showing a procedure for treating apatient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In one example embodiment an apparatus 10 includes a patientinterface—for example, a nasal mask 20—connected to a positive airwaypressure (PAP) device 30 including a flow sensor 40. Patient breathingin the nasal mask 20 is detected by the flow sensor 40, which generatesa flow signal that is sent to the controller 50. The controller 50includes a microprocessor or any suitable combination of hardware,software, or other programmed logic circuitry operable to analyzesignals from a range of inputs. In the controller 50, components of theflow signal caused by leak may be filtered (e.g., reduced and/orremoved), thereby providing a respiratory flow signal. The heart rate isdetected from small oscillations in the flow signal occurring in afrequency band around 1 Hz. Ventilation is determined from therespiratory flow signal.

In certain example embodiments, the apparatus 10 may include a detector60 built into the headgear 70. In certain example embodiments, theheadgear 70 may further comprise skin conductivity sensors in one ormore locations in the headgear 70. Such skin conductivity sensors may bearranged so as to be in contact with the skin. Patient sweating can bedetected as a change in skin conductivity. In certain exampleembodiments, the headgear 70 may further include skin temperaturesensors. More generally, in certain example embodiments, sensors may bebuilt into and/or otherwise connected to the headgear 70 to detectindications of sympathetic nervous system activation. See, for example,U.S. Publication No. 2006/0100538, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

In certain example embodiments, a hypoglycemic detector may be provided,which may include a transcutaneous blood sugar level detector 80connected to the controller 50 via an interface 90. In certain exampleembodiments, the blood sugar level detector 80 may include a sensor on anasal prong for contact with the mucosal regions of the nares. Incertain other example embodiments, the sensor may be suitable to be usedon a limb of a patient, such as an arm.

In certain example embodiments, the hypoglycemic detector may measurethe glucose level in a small amount of interstitial fluid that has beenremoved from between the skin cells by a vacuum action.

In certain example embodiments, the hypoglycemic detector may use aplethysmogram to detect a range of patient parameters including heartrate. See, for example, PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU2005/001543(Martin & Oates), the entire contents of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

In certain example embodiments, the hypoglycemic detector may use anelectroencephalogram (EEG) to determine when a patient is in a coma. TheEEG sensors may be built into the headgear, for example, by using adevice manufactured by Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc.

In certain example embodiments, an action unit is provided, whichincludes a buzzer that generates an audible signal when hypoglycemia isdetected by the detector. In certain other example embodiments, theaction unit is connected to a remote monitoring station via a network(e.g., the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, etc.). When hypoglycemia is detected,the action unit may send a signal to the remote monitoring station toindicate that the patient is potentially suffering from a diabetic coma.It will be appreciated that the alarm may include one or more of anaudible and/or visual alert, a remote notification, an automateddelivery of a treatment (e.g., insulin), etc.

In certain example embodiments, the action unit may further include adrug delivery unit that can supply glucose or insulin, as appropriate,to the person. For example, patients suffering from hypoglycemia may begiven glucose, hyperglycemic patients may receive oral insulin via themask, etc.

Similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is an apparatus for treating a patient withboth sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes, in accordance with anotherexample embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, a drug delivery unit 100 may beprovided to the apparatus which is shown without the headgear 70. Basedon the signals at one or more of the flow sensor 40, the blood sugarlevel detector 80, etc., the controller 50 may determine that a diabeticevent (e.g., hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic coma, etc.), apnea orhypopnea event, and/or other events has/have occurred. In response, thecontroller 50 may, via the interface 40, instruct the drug delivery unit100 to supply a treatment to the patient. For example, oral insulin,glucose, etc. may be administered automatically (e.g., via a vaporand/or aerosol delivery) and/or recommended for administration by ahuman user.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative flowchart showing a procedure for treating apatient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes. In FIG. 3, apatient is treated for sleep-disordered breathing in step S302.Monitoring for hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia is performed in stepS304. The monitoring process may include gathering relevant signals(e.g., patient sweat, heart rate, EEG signals, breath, snore, bloodsugar level, etc.) and/or filtering such signals when necessary. If adiabetic event is not detected in step S306, the normal treatment andmonitoring continues. However, if a diabetic event is detected in stepS306, an alert mechanism is activated in step S308. As noted above, thealert mechanism may include, for example, activating an audio/visualalarm, notifying a monitoring station that may be located remote fromthe patient, etc. Additionally, an appropriate treatment may beadministered in step S310.

Given these techniques, patients suffering from both OSA and/or othersleep-disordered breathing and diabetes who are being treated with nasalCPAP can sleep with the assurance that should they begin to becomehypoglycemic, their CPAP device will detect this and raise an alarmand/or take a suitable counteraction.

While the invention has been described in connection with what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the invention. Also, the various embodiments described abovemay be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspectsof one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment torealize yet other embodiments.

Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented inconjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment maybe combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet otherembodiments. In addition, while the invention has particular applicationto patients who suffer from OSA, it is to be appreciated that patientswho suffer from other illnesses (e.g., congestive heart failure,diabetes, morbid obesity, stroke, barriatric surgery, etc.) can derivebenefit from the above teachings. Moreover, the above teachings haveapplicability with patients and non-patients alike in non-medicalapplications.

1. An apparatus for treatment of a patient with both sleep-disorderedbreathing and diabetes comprising: a blower configured to provide asupply of air at positive pressure; a patient interface; headgear tohold the patient interface in position in communication with a patient'sairways; at least one hypoglycemia sensor; an alarm; and a controller,wherein the controller is programmed to receive a signal from the atleast one hypoglycemia detector, analyze the signal for indications ofhypoglycemia and upon detection of an indication of hypoglycemia triggerthe alarm.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at leastone hypoglycemia detector detects activation of the sympathetic nervoussystem.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least onehypoglycemia detector detects at least one of: patient sweating,temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a flow sensor in fluidcommunication with the patient interface.
 5. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said alarm is a buzzer.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said alarm is sent to a remote monitoring system.
 7. Anapparatus for treatment of a patient with both sleep-disorderedbreathing and diabetes comprising: a PAP device configured to provide asupply of pressurized breathable gas; at least one glycemia sensor; and,a controller operable to receive a signal from the at least one glycemiadetector and further operable to analyze the signal for an indication ofa glycemia abnormality.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe at least one glycemia sensor is one or more of: a transcutaneousblood sugar level detector, a sensor for contact with mucosal regions ofthe patient nares on a nasal prong of a mask connected to the PAPdevice, and a sensor capable of measuring the patient's glucose level byextracting a small amount of interstitial fluid that has been removedfrom between the skin cells via a vacuum tube.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein said at least one glycemia detectordetects activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein said at least one glycemia detectordetects at least one of: patient sweating, temperature, heart rate, andrespiration rate.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thecontroller is further operable to sound an audible alert when the signalindicates a glycemia abnormality.
 12. The apparatus according to claim7, wherein the controller is further operable to send information aboutthe patient treatment to a remote monitoring station.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to send theinformation when the signal indicates one or more of: patienthypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and/or diabetic coma.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, further comprising a drug delivery unit.
 15. Theapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the drug delivery unit isconfigured to supply glucose and/or insulin to the patient.
 16. A methodof treating a patient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes,the method comprising: providing a supply of pressurized breathable gasto the patient; and, generating a signal indicative of whether thepatient is experiencing a diabetic event.
 17. The method according toclaim 16, further comprising when the signal indicates that the patientis experiencing a diabetic event, activating an alert mechanism.
 18. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein the step of activating the alertmechanism is further practiced by sounding an audible alarm.
 19. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein the step of activating the alertmechanism is further practiced by notifying a remote monitoring station.20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising when the signalindicates that the patient is experiencing a diabetic event,administering a corresponding treatment.